Many married people seem to think that their matrimonial happiness depends on swell homes and association with those more prosperous families known as "society"--"Keeping up with the Joneses." This is wrong. Attempts of that kind often lead to the utter destruction of happiness. It is true that a nice home and a pleasing circle of acquaintances are worth much, but marital happiness does not depend upon them. It springs from that life which man and wife live together unseen by the eyes of the world. The happiest moments in the life of a wife are not those in which her husband stands upon the stage of the world, the object of praise and admiration--as the man _to whom the laurel wreath is given_; nor, in the life of the man, when his wife is considered _a celebrated grand lady_. No, the sublimest happiness in married life is due to those hours when man and wife sit cheerfully at home, hand in hand, talking about the grace of God and about their mutual love. * * * * * Many young people think that happiness and joy depend upon the number of dances they are able to attend, or upon exterior circumstances. It is not their fault that they are neither happy nor glad. It is due to the environment, living conditions, to those with whom they associate. And while all this may be of importance it is, profoundly seen, a delusion, nevertheless. It is true, also, in the case of the young man and the young woman that their happiness essentially depends upon their hidden life. If that is a life of impure thoughts, of sinful cravings--then happiness will be meagre, no matter how favorable the environment may be. There will be no calm and deep-seated joy, no real happiness. If, on the other hand, that hidden life means a life of pure thoughts and noble ambition, a life in God, then it will mean happiness even though the environment may be unfavorable. * * * * * It is a law in the life of mankind that happiness depends upon the manner in which the hidden life is lived. By creating this law, God has given rich and poor an equal chance of happiness, and has shown Himself as the friend of the poor. * * * * * King Charles IX of France once asked the Italian poet, Tasso: "Who, think you, is the happiest?" Without a moment of hesitation, the poet answered: "God." "Yes, yes, very well," the king said, "but then next to God?" "The one who resembles Him most," was the answer. THE WORTH OF YOUR SOUL "FOR what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mat. 16, 26.) The first thought is that of _the infinite worth of the soul_.